Can filling machine



Jan. 16, 1940. c. H. AYARs CAN FILLING MACHNE Filed Aug. l, 1938 2 Shee'S--Sheerl l.

ARS.

Jan. 16, 1940. c. H. AYARs CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed Aug. l, 1938 2 Sheets-Shel??l 2 Y INVENTOR CQRLESHHYAR QWj/WATTQFemEY i Patented Jan. 16, 1940 PATENT QFFICE CAN FILLING MACHINE Charles H. Ayars, Salem, N. J., assigner to Ayars Machine Company, Salem, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 1, 1938, Serial N0. 222,425

25 Claims.

This invention relates to can lling machinery, and has particular reference to a machine which lls cans with predetermined quantities of liquid, viscous or semi-plastic materials in continuous l succession.

The machine is particularly adapted for filling cans with liquid, such as oils, tomato juice, greases, etc., as wellas semi-plastic materials, such for instance, as dog food and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a can lling machine in which materials of accurate predetermined quantity are withdrawn from a supply by suction and forced into cans which are fed in continuous succession to the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine in which cans of different sizes may be accurately filled by simple adjustments on the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide means to prevent any spilling of the material even though the same should seep past the plungers which withdraw the material from the supply and force the same into the cans.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a machine in which a sealing plate providing for the discharge of material from the pockets and the sealing of the bottoms of such pockets during the period in which they are taking their charge, is entirely enclosed, so as to obscure the same from view.

This invention is a continuation in part of the apparatus shown and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 188,825, flled February 5, 1938.

According to the invention, the can lling machine comprises a frame, a central rotatable shaft, a rotating hopper communicating with a stationary magazine or supply chamber, a discharge port in said supply chamber, a turret having a plurality of cylinders or pockets arranged for rotation around said chamber in unison with said hopper, an admission port in each of said pockets horizontally aligned with the discharge port in said chamber, a discharge port i in the bottom of each pocket, a sealing plate having a discharge opening removed from the discharge port in said chamber and adapted to seal the discharge port in each pocket during the communication of the admission port of said pocket with the discharge port of said chamber, a plunger in each pocket, a track, a roller operably connected with each of said plungers, said track arranged in elevation to reciprocate the rollers engaged therewith, and to elevate said plungers during the communication between the pocket admission port and chamber discharge port, and lower said plungers during communication with the discharge port of said pocket and the discharge opening of said sealing plate, whereby the contents drawn into said pocket by the upward movement of said plunger are deposited into a can by the downward movement thereof. n

The machine is also provided with means for bodily raising or lowering the supply chamber and turret mechanism, so as to provide the proper amount of space between the can table and mechanism for cans of diierent sizes, all of which mechanism is shown in my co-pending application above set forth.

The machine also has its hopper extended a considerable distance above the top of the turret and the bottom of said hopper rests within an annular ange of a turret plate which rotates withsaid hopper and which completely encloses the sealing plate.

The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and the views therein are as follows:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View of the intermediary part of my machine showing the particular features wherein the machine of this application differs from the machine shown and described in my co-pending application above set forth, and

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the combined hopper and turret.

The shaft 6 is driven from any suitable source of power and the upstanding bushing 'l of the turret 8 is provided with set screws 9 which eX- tend into a keyway in said shaft, so that the combined turret and hopper rotates with said shaft. Immediately Without the bushing I and concentric therewith is a cup II into which is tted a magazine or supply` chamber I 2, while concentrically located around said magazine are pockets or cylinders I3 having plungers I4 operating therein. The outer concentric wall I6 of the hopper or combined turret and hopper extends a considerable distance above the top I'l of the turret, the purpose of which is later explained. The magazine has an upwardly extending sleeve I fitting around the shaft 6 and which is secured to the arch C of the frame B by a pin I5', so as to hold said magazine stationary. The magazine has a horizontally elongated discharge port I8 in its upstanding outer wall I8', while each of the cylinders or pockets I3 has a port I9 which is horizontally aligned with the port I8 of said magazine.

The bottoms of the cylinders or pockets I3 may be opened, or may be provided with a restriction member 2|, as desired. Different types of restriction members are shown and described in my co-pending application. Each of the plungers I4 is provided with upwardly extending lips 22 between which is received one endv of a connecting rod 23, while the upper end of Said connecting rod is received into a bracket 24 secured by the bolts 26 to the reciprocating cross head 2l. The cross head for each plu-nger consists of a bar reciprocally mounted in slotted guides Z6 (see Figure 3) on the outside of the concentric wall I6. provided with a bearing spindle 29 upon which a iianged roller 3l is rotatably and slidably mounted, that is to say, the roller is freely rotatable and is also freely movable longitudinally of the spindle 26, so that the flange of the roller 3i may be movedout of the groove 32 of the track 33 by means of the switch 34 when there is no can to be filled from the cylinder or pocket controlled Aby the particular roller which is disengaged from the track. This will be later described. The track is fastened to the frame` B as shown and described in my co-pending application and the downwardly extending part thereof has a cooperating rail 38 for raising the pressure of the rollers when the same are descending.

The outer wall I6 may be made separate from the turret and connected therewith.

Below the bottom of the turret 8 is a sealing plate 35 which is secured by pins 31 to the flange 33 of a sleeve 39. This sleeve as shown in my co--pending application is held against rotation, so that the entire turret and hopper rotates on the sealing plate 36. This sealing plate has an elongated discharge opening 40 through which the material taken into said pockets is forced into the can A. Extending under the sealing plate 36 which has a circular periphery is a turret plate 4 I. This turret plate has an upstanding annular flange 4i! which embraces the lower end ofthe outer concentric wall I6 forming the hopper, and a key 43 ymay insure the rotation of said turret plate with saidhopp'er. This turret plate has a downwardly extending bushing 44 which ts around the stationary bushing 39, and rotates thereon. The turret plate 4I is provided with discharge openings 46 which are centrally aligned with the openings in the bottoms of the cylinders or the restrictive members 2|. The turret has its upper face 47 sloping downwardly toward the shaft 6.

Each of the pistons or plungers I4 is provided with one or more grooves 48 which in operation will be filled with the material being handled, but it has been found that with some types of material, the juices therefrom will escape to the upper side of said plungers and when the outer wall l5 is of the same height as the turret 8, material may be spilled over the sides thereof, all of which causes waste and a messy condition of the machine. In this case, instead of having the hopper which feeds directly into the magazine or supp-ly chamber I2, the material is placed into the space 49 defined by the outer wall I5 of the hopper, and the upper sloping face 47 of the turret enables any liquid material pulled to the top of the pockets I3 by the plungers to run down over the face of said turret, and into the space above the magazine I2.

Referring now to Figurev l, a drive pulley 5I Each of said cross heads is is shown for driving the central shaft 6, and the shaft 52 on which said pulley is located, has a sprocket and chain connection 53 with the shaft 54 of the can feeding mechanism 56. This mechanism has a worm 5'! which advances the cans to be filled, and each of the cans passing the trigger 58 pushes the same outward into the position shown in Figure l, and as this trigger is connected to the arm 59 of a .bell crank whose sleeve 6I is pivotally mounted on the pin 62, its operation will move the other arm 63 of said bell crank, so as to push the rod 64 in the direction lshown by the arrow X. The other end of this rod 64 is pivoted at 66 to a lever 61 which has the sleeve 68 mounted on its other end and onto thisr sleeve the switch 34 is xedlymounted, so that when the can strikes against the trigger 5S and the rod 34 moves in the direction of the arrow X, tension will be placed on the spring 69, andV when the can leaves the trigger 58 and the roller 3l leaves 'the switch 34, the spring 69 will move the rod 64 in a direction contrary to the direction of the arrow X, thereby pulling the switch inward from the track 33 and moving the trigger in the direction of the arrow Z, where it will be in position `to be engaged by the succeeding can passing through the feed mechanism 56, while, if said kcan is absent, the switch 34 will switch the flange 3I of the roller from the track and the particular cylinder whose roller is so switched is the cylinder whose contents were-to be emptied into a can occupying the position of theimissing can, so that when the can is missing, its cylinder Will not take a charge of material, as its plunger will not be moved upward due to its roller being ldisengaged from the track. This mechanism has been described in my co-pending application hereinbefore mentioned as well as the'hand wheel 1I, which is operated to change the maximum height of the track 33 to cause the plungers to take a greater'or less amount into their respective pockets, while the star wheel 'I2 operating over the table I3 removes the filled cans from under the turret.

The sealing plate 36 is constructed in exactly the same manner as the sealing plateshown in Figure 4 of the co-pending application, so that it is removable from the shaft 6. Upon the raising, the turret and hopper appear above the flange 42, so that said sealing plate can be taken from the machine for cleansing or repair through the space between the upper end of the annular flange 42 and the bottom of the outer wall I 6 of the turret. v

Of course, the lling machine illustrated and described herein may be modied in lvarious ways without departing from the invention herein set forth and hereafter claimed.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. In a can iilling machine, a hoppercomprising a rotating part and a stationary cup part, measuring cylinders arranged concentrically within the rotating part of said hopper, -a plunger in each cylinder, and means arranged to permit the plungers to successively draw charges from said cup part, the upper ends of said cylinders communicating with the rotating part of said hopper. i

Y2. A can lling machine having a supply hopper, a rotary turret having measuring cylinders located within said hopper, said hopper having a stationary cup part surrounded by said cylinders, a plunger operating in each of said cylinders, each cylinder having a port in its side wall for drawing material from said cup part into same on the upward stroke of the piston, the tops of said cylinders terminating a considerable distance below the top of said hopper whereby any material working past said plungers is returned to said hopper.

3. A can lling machine having a supply hopper, a turret having measuring cylinders having the upper ends opening into said hopper, a

plunger in each cylinder, means for admitting material to said cylinders upon the upward stroke of said plungers, a discharge port below the cylinders for depositing the contents of the cylinders into cans, while any material working past which is aligned with the discharge port of each cylinder, and a stationary plate between said turret and said base plate provided with a discharge opening and adapted to seal the discharge port of each cylinder duringthe charging thereof.

5. A can filling machine comprising a supply hopper, a rotary turret having measuring cylinders located within said hopper, each cylinder having a discharge port, a plunger in each cylinder, said plungers on their upward strokes i, drawing charges of material from said hopper intof'said cylinders successively, a rotary base plate for said hopper, said plate having openings one cf which is aligned with the discharge port of each cylinder, a stationary plate between said turret and said base plate provided with a discharge opening and adapted to seal the discharge port of each cylinder during the charging thereof, and means for concealing said stationary plate.

6. A can filling machine comprising a supply hopper, a rotary turret having measuring cylinders located within said hopper, each cylinder having a discharge port, a plunger in each cylinder, said hopper extending a considerable distance above the top of safd turret, said plungers on their upward strokes drawing charges of ina-- terial from said hopper into said cylinders successively, a rotary base plate for said hopper, said plate having openings one of which is aligned with the .discharge port of each cylinder, and a stationary plate between said turret and said base plate provided with a, discharge opening and adapted to seal the discharge port of each cylinder during the charging thereof. 7. A can filling machine comprising a supply hopper, a rotary turret having measuring cylinders located Within said hopper, each cylinder having a discharge port, a plunger in each cylinder, said hopper extending a considerable distance above the top of said turret. said plungers on their upward strokes drawing charges of materia] from said hopper into said cylinders successively, a rotary base plate for said hopper, said plate having openings one of which is aligned with the discharge port of each cylinder, a stationary plate between said turret and said base plate provided with a discharge opening and adapted to seal the discharge port of each cylinder dur'ng the charging thereof, and means for concealing said stationary plate.

8. A can filling machine comprising a supply hopper, a rotary turret having measuring cylinders located within said hopper, each cylinder having a discharge port, a plunger in each cylinder, the upper face of said turret sloping downwardly toward the center thereof, said plungers on their upward strokes drawing charges of material from said hopper into said cylinders successively, a rotary base plate for said hopper,

said plate having openings one of which is aligned with the discharge port of each cylinder, and a stationary plate between said turret and said base plate provided with a discharge opening and adapted to seal the discharge port of each cylinder during the charging thereof.

9. A can filling machine comprising a supply hopper, a rotary turret having measuring cylinders located within said hopper, each cylinder having a discharge port, a plunger in each cylinder, the upper face of said turret sloping downwardly toward the center thereof, said plungers on their upward strokes drawing charges of material from said hopper into said cylinders successively, a rotary base plate for said hopper, said plate having openings one of which is aligned with the discharge port of each cylinder, a stationary plate between said turret and said base plate provided with a discharge opening and adapted to seal the discharge port of each cylinder during the charging thereof, and means for concealing said stationary plate.

10. A can iilling machine comprising a supply hopper, a rotary turret having measuring cylinders located within said hopper, each cylinder having a discharge port, a plunger in each cylinder, said hopper extending a considerable distance above the top of said turret, the upper face of said turret sloping downwardly toward the center thereof, said plungers on their upward strokes drawing charges of material frei". said hopper into said cylinders successively, a rotary base plate for said hopper, said plate having openings one of which is aligned with the discharge port of each cylinder, and a stationary plate between said turret and said base plat: provided with a discharge opening and adapted to seal the discharge port of each cylinder during the charging thereof.

ll. A can iilling machine comprising a supply hopper, a rotary turret having measuring cylinders located within said hopper, each cylinder having a discharge port, a plunger in each cylinder, said hopper extending a considerable distance above the top of said turret, the upper face of said turret sloping downwardly toward the center thereof, said plungers on their upward strokes drawing charges of material from said hopper into said cylinders successively, a rotary base plate for said hopper, said plate having openings one of which is aligned with the discharge port of each cylinder, a stationary plate between said turret and said base plate provided with a discharge opening and adapted to seal the discharge port of each cylinder during the charging thereof, and means for concealing sai", stationary plate.

l2. A iilling machine comprising a rotary turret having measuring cylinders, a hopper surrounding and extending above said turret. a stationary magazine within said turret and cornmunicating with said hopper, means for successively drawing a charge of material from said magazine into said cylinders, a discharge port in the bottom of each cylinder, a stationary sealing plate below and adjacent said turret having a discharge opening therein, and. a plate below said stationary plate completely enclosing same.

i Y'i nih-ne machine comprising a rotary n). ik. turret having measuring cylinders, a hopper sur--v rounding said turret and extending a considerhopper and adapted to enclose said stationary plate.

14. A can iilling machine comprising a rotary turret having measuring cylinders, a hopper surrounding and extending above said turret, the upper face of said turret sloping downward toward the center thereof, a stationary magazine within said turret and communicating with said hopper, means for successively .drawing a charge oi material from said magazine into said cylinders, a disch rge port in the bottom of each cylinder, a stationary sealing plate below and adjacent said turret having a discharge opening therein, and a plate below said stationary plate completely enclosing same.

i5. A can iilling machine comprising a rotary turret having measuring cylinders, a hopper surrounding said turret and extending a considi erable distance above the top of same, the upper face of said turret sloping downward toward the center thereof, a stationary magazine surrounded by said turret, said cylinders each having an admission port and a discharge port, said magazine having a feed port, plungers in said cylin* ders, a stationary plate below and adjacent said turret and provided with a discharge port and adapted to seal the discharge port oi each cylin der during the charging thereof, and a base plate rotating with said hopper and adapted to enclose said stationary plate.

16. A can lling machine comprising a rotary turret having measuring cylinders, a hopper surrounding and extending above said turret, a stationary magazine within said turret and communicating with said hopper, plungers for succese sively drawing a charge ci material from said magazine into said cylinders, a discharge port in the bottom of each cylinder, a stationary sealm ing plate below and adjacent said turret having adischarge opening therein, and a plate below said stationary plate completely enclosing same.

17. A can filling machine comprising a supply hopper, a rotary turret having measuring cylinders located within said hopper, each cylinder having a discharge port, means for drawing a charge of material from said hopper into said cylinders successively, a rotary base plate for said hopper, said plate having openings one of which is aligned with the discharge port of each cylin der, a stationary plate between said turret and said hase plate provided with a discharge opening adapted to seal the discharge port of each cylinder during the charging thereof, and an opstanding annular ilange on said base plate embracing the lower end of said hopper for con cealing said stationary plate,

1S. A can lling machine comprising a supply hopper, a rotary turret having measuring cylinders iocated within said hopper, each cylinder having a discharge port, said hopper extending a considerable distance above the top of said turret, means for drawing a charge of material from said hopper into said cylinders successively, a rotary base place for said hopper, said plate having openings one of which is aligned with the discharge port of each cylinder, a stationary plate between said turret and said base plate provided with a discharge opening and adapted to seal the discharge port of each cylinder during the charging thereof, and an upstanding annular flange on said base plate embracing the lower end ofl said hopper for concealing said stationary plate.

19. A can filling machine comprising a rotary turret having measuring cylinders, a hopper surrounding and extending above said turret, a stationary magazine within said turret and communicating with said hopper, means for successively drawing a charge of material from said magazine into said cylinders, a discharge port in the bottom of each cylinder, a stationary sealing plate below and adjacent said turret having a discharge opening therein, and a plate below said stationary plate, said last named plate having an upstanding annular ange embracing the lower end of said hopper for completely enclosing said stationary plate.

20. A can lling machine having a hopper of two diameters, measuring cylinders surrounding the smaller diameter, and located below the larger diameter, the upper ends of said cylinders opening into the larger diameter of said hopper, plungers in said measuring cylinders, means arranged to provide for the drawing of charges of material from said smaller hopper diameter into said cylinders upon the upward movement of the plungers, and means for successively discharging the contents of said cylinders.

21. A can filling machine having a rotary hopper oftwo diameters, measuring cylinders surrounding the smaller diameter, and located below the larger diameter, the upper ends of said cylinders being open to the larger diameter of said hopper, plungers in said measuring cylinders, a stationary magazine within said smaller diameter provided with an elongated. opening, said cylinders each having a port on the wall forming the smaller diameter of said hopper, said plungers adapted to draw charges of material into said cylinders through their respective ports and the elongated opening upon their upward strokes, and adapted to discharge the contents from said cylinders during the time the respective ports and said discharge opening are out of communication.

22. A hopper and measuring cylinder construction for can lling machines comprising a hopper having a rotating part and a stationary part, and cylinders located within the outer diameter of the rotating part and surrounding said stationary part, the surface at the top of said cylinders being substantially concave to drain material thereon into said stationary part.

23. A hopper and measuring cylinder construction for can lling machines comprising a hopper having a rotating part and a stationary part, and cylinders located within the outer diameter of the rotating part and having their upper ends communicating therewith, said cylinders surrounding said stationary part.

24. A hopper and measuring cylinder construction for can iilling machines comprising a hopper having a rotating part and a stationary part, cylinders located within the outer diam eter of the rotating part and surrounding said stationary part, the surface at the top of said cylinders being substantially concave to drain material thereon into said stationary part and means for successively admitting material from said stationary part to said cylinders.

25. A hopper and measuring cylinder construction for can filling machines comprising a hopper having a rotating part and a stationary part, cylinders located Within the outer diameter of the rotating part and having their upper ends communicating therewith, said cylinders surrounding said stationary part, and means for successively admitting material from said stationary part to said cylinders.

CHARLES I-I. AYARS 

